Umphrey’s McGee’s New Year's Eve Plans

Playing Chicago during the last week of the year has become a tradition for Umphrey’s McGee. This year the Windy City-based band will not disappoint as it announces three shows welcoming 2010.

This year it starts with a “warm-up” performance at Chicago’s Vic Theatre Dec. 29.

Photo: Jeff Ufberg

House of Blues, New Orleans.

Then comes the main event – Dec. 30-31 at the band’s usual year-end stop, the Aragon Ballroom. Along for the fun will be electronic wizards Z-Trip Dec. 30 and Prefuse 73 Dec. 31. All three shows are 18 and over.

In addition to Prefuse 73 for New Year’s Eve, the band has also assembled a special horn section for the last performance of the year, led by Dave Matthews Band sax player Jeff Coffin.

Speaking of New Year’s Eve, here’s the game plan for wrapping up 2009: Prefuse 73 will open with a live set and will keep the party going with DJ sets during McGee set breaks, so there’s wall-to-wall music until closing time.

Photo: John Davisson

Wanee Festival, Live Oak, Fla.

You want tickets? Sure you do. Here’s the deal. Tickets for the Dec. 29 warm-up show at the Vic Theatre are priced at $30. But you can’t buy these tickets separately. Instead, you need to buy a three-show pass good for all the shows. On the other hand, tickets for Dec. 30 and 31 will be sold separately with Dec. 30 costing you $32.50 and New Year’s Eve priced at $65.

For more information on how you can spend the last three nights of 2009 with Umphrey’s McGee, please click here for the band’s Web site.